Let's play a game of "pick your poison"!

No, not the 2016 elections, silly!

Which is worse: brain zaps or akathisia?

I'm getting godawful brain zaps since trying to quit Lexapro. I had akathisia before, but sh#t... these f#cking brain zaps are killing me. I'm dyyyyyying.

In my case, the discomfort these brain zaps bring on far exceed the discomfort brought on by akathisia. So consider this a vote for preferring akathisia.

[bioChE]

I'd vote for akathisia! I had brain zaps when quitting Lexapro as well. I also had them when stopping Wellbutrin.

Brain zaps suck.

[Sad Mermaid]

I have not had brain zaps. The akathisia I experienced on Seroquel was best compared to torture. I also had it when I combined Zyprexa with Geodon, although it was not as awful. So I cannot vote without knowledge of brain zaps, but I can say that akathisia is one of the worst side effects I have experienced.

[Ripose]

Akathisia is by far the worst. I think it should be classified as torture. I have akathisia right now but I just got my klonopin dose doubled today so hopefully that will help.
I stopped the worst of the akathisia by taking vitamin B6, NAC, and Benadryl together, the akathisia improved overnight.
I can understand why people with severe akathisia sometimes off themselves.

The brain zaps were like a walk in the park comparatively.

I've never had akathisia but from what I've read about it online, I'd rather the brain zaps. Zaps are highly unpleasant though...but I always thought akathisia would have me jumping off the the nearest tallest building....it sounds horrific.

[mindwrench]

After two weeks on Latuda I couldn't take the akathisia anymore, if that's what it was. It seemed the most prominent in my legs but really my whole body inside and in my head it felt like i needed to run as fast as i could and scream as loud as I can but nothing helped. My sleep went to hell too no matter how many hydroxyzine and muscle relaxers i took I cold only get a few hours tops.

It's been 74 hours since my last dose, and this morning I slept better than i've slept since I started the drug. For most of the day I have felt more relaxed than I remember feeling in a long time, but maybe it's just the relief of the akathisia dwindling down.

I had some pretty intense psychosis last night (nighttime is worst), but I've dealt with it for many years. This evening I started getting little 1 second bursts of like spinning on a merry go round sensation along with micro bursts of terror or micro panic attacks, is that what a brain zap feels like?

I am done with psychoactive drugs, and this was my first experience with any kind of psychiatric drug.

[GGChar]

Haven't had too many brain zaps but they sucked when I did. Really freaky. That was when I couldn't get my Cymbalta and was withdrawing.

The akathisia literally had me squirming to get out of my body. Every position was uncomfortable and I was hyper-aware of it. I am always swinging a leg or foot but nothing like some of the bad symptoms.

Ripose, thanks for the reminders about the B6 etc...

[Moogieotter]

I've experienced both. I guess there are levels of severity for each individual.

I had 5 weeks of bad akathesia starting Latuda and milder early on w Abilify. I powered through the 5 weeks w the Latuda and am happy/stable on it for 2+ years.

The wanting to crawl out of your skin and constantly feeling like you needed to yawn and shiver and wiggle your legs or rock back and forth in the bed was rough. The only help was a mouthful of deli meat or chocolate milk and 50mg Benadryl.

moogs

[still_crazy]

I dunno...Paxil tapering brain zaps were terrible. Akathisia...worse. Mine was from 5mgs Zyprexa. I was already on 2mgs Klonopin, and the akathisia broke through, anyway. I couldn't make conversation, it was...bad.

I've read that severe akathisia can result in violence, and I can see why. tardive akathisia...now that sounds like a nightmare...

[LucyG]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Let's play a game of "pick your poison"!

No, not the 2016 elections, silly!

Which is worse: brain zaps or akathisia?

I'm getting godawful brain zaps since trying to quit Lexapro. I had akathisia before, but sh#t... these f#cking brain zaps are killing me. I'm dyyyyyying.

In my case, the discomfort these brain zaps bring on far exceed the discomfort brought on by akathisia. So consider this a vote for preferring akathisia.

I had zaps in the middle of my back when I went off Effexor. It was like being tazed.

Are you taking anything to help your brain adjust to the withdrawal of the Lexapro? If not, check out this article on how to safely get off antidepressants. I didn't know about amino acids when I went off my meds, but I do remember researching it and it seems like I found that chlorine in eggs helped. I think I ate hard boiled egg yokes, but it's been a long time ago...

How To Get Off Your Antidepressant Without Going Insane

Vitacost.com has very good amino acids and other supplements at great prices. They're a private labeler so you're getting top brands at a discount price. We've been buying their brand for 16 years now. My naturopath used to make me bring in my supplements so he could see what I was taking, and had to admit the Vitacost brand were decent supplements much to his dismay as I'm sure he wanted me to replace them with his brand.

[~Christina]

I'll take brain zaps ! Akathsia is hell hell hell for me

Brain zaps! Akathisia was hell for me too. I got it really bad on latuda.

[Moose72]

Well I just went off zoloft without any brain zaps. Then again, I replaced with with Wellbutrin. I am liking Wellbutrin so much I may never go off, but if I do, I may get brain zaps and I'll take those over akathisia. I had that after some drug- Abilify?- and was very uncomfortable. I think I had brain zaps after going off zoloft many years ago (in 2000 ish) and that was weird but bearable.

[PenguinExMachina]

Brain zaps. Akathisia is Hell. I can't stand that feeling of restlessness. It is absolute hell for me.

[Yours_Truly]

I've never had brain zaps either so I can only agree that Akathisia is hell.

[Unrigged64072835]

I'd rather have brain zaps. They only affect one part of my body. With akathisia my whole body is affected and it feels like I need to just do stuff on and on.

[st0psign]

what in the **** are brain zaps? I thought you were talking about ECT.

[Moose72]

It feels like electrical buzzing inside your brain. That's the best I can describe it

When I get brain zaps I feel buzzing but mostly my equilibrium shifts and I keep feeling like I will pass out over and over. It's like my brain shuts on and off in rapid concession

Paxil caused it worse than any other med but I've gotten milder forms from other meds.

[Fuzzybear]

Brain zaps
(Withdrawal from Paxil was ... )

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Brain zaps are annoying. Akathesia has hospitalized me once and sent me to the ER at least one other time. I'd take brain zaps any day. (Ok, back when I was trying SSRIs 20 years ago I thought brain zaps were sort of interesting....so I don't even hate them. I did not like them when I came off high dose Seroquel fast in the hospital; I don't even remember them but I do remember talking to the dr about them. I think they gave me something to help.)

[raspberrytorte]

I've never gotten brain zaps, but akathesia feels like torture. I'd take any side effect over that one. Anything!!!

[Row Jimmy]

I prefer dope slaps, as I have received many.